News Article

National Archives Presents Public Program on the Dramatic Increase of Women in U.S. Congress

October 10, 2019

On Wednesday, October 30, 2019, the National Archives will present a special forum titled, Women in Leadership: The Impact of Women on the U.S. Congress. A distinguished panel will explore the dramatic increase in women’s voices on Capitol Hill and the impact this has on our government and society. 

The program is free and open to the public and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. and live streamed on the National Archives YouTube Channel. Reservations are recommended and can be made online.   

Women make up nearly one-quarter of the 116th U.S. Congress – the highest percentage in U.S. history. A distinguished panel, including Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), and Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) will explore how the influx of women in Congress has changed the ethos of that body. The discussion will be moderated by CNN journalist and television news anchor Brooke Baldwin. 

“It is astounding that just 100 years ago, women did not have the right to vote. While now that right is uncontested, the issue of gender equality is still being debated in our homes and workplaces, including on Capitol Hill,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. “For the past 11 years, this forum has celebrated women leaders in business, journalism, academia, technology and military. I look forward to hearing from those personally engaged in this incredible sea change for women in politics.”

The discussion is part of the annual National Archives’ “Women in Leadership” public program forum. The Women in Leadership forum is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation and through the generous support of BMO Financial Group.

“BMO is proud to support this celebration of the role of women in Congress. Every business that brings women into senior leadership positions experiences benefits to the workplace,” said National Archives Foundation Board Member and Vice-Chair of BMO Financial Group Ambassador David Jacobson. “So it is no surprise that one of the products of the 19th Amendment – women in Congress – has had the same positive impact on that special workplace.”  

This forum is held in conjunction with the new exhibition: Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation in honor of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, AT&T, Ford Motor Company Fund, Facebook, Barbara Lee Family Foundation Fund at the Boston Foundation, Google, HISTORY ®, and Jacqueline B. Mars. Additional support for National Outreach and Programs provided by Denise Gwyn Ferguson, BMO Financial Group, Hearst Foundations, Maris S. Cuneo Foundation, FedEx, Bernstein Family Foundation, and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation/Ambassador Fay-Hartog Levin (Ret.).

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About the National Archives Foundation

The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov